Hua Hin Airport in Thailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan province is set for a major upgrade with a THB 300 million (about USD 8.8 million) investment to bring its facilities up to international standards. The improvement project includes two key phases:
Runway Expansion: The runway will be extended and widened to 45 meters to accommodate larger aircraft, such as Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s. This phase, costing THB 239 million, has been completed and is now under inspection by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to ensure it meets international requirements.
Infrastructure Upgrades: The second phase will focus on expanding the road tunnel, runway strip, and runway-end safety area. This work requires an additional THB 300 million investment and is pending approval from the Budget Bureau. Construction is set to begin in January 2025, with completion expected by April 2026.
At present, Hua Hin Airport operates only one domestic route to Chiang Mai, with flights four times a week by Thai AirAsia. The airport had previously offered international flights to Kuala Lumpur, but these were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Thai government plans to resume international flights by 2025, hoping the upgrades will boost tourism and economic activity in the region.
The airport’s terminal, which can currently handle up to 300 passengers per hour (about 860,000 passengers annually), will also be expanded to manage growing traffic. Local officials, including Hua Hin’s mayor, are hopeful the upgrade will increase the city’s attractiveness as a tourist destination. However, some community members are concerned about whether the current infrastructure can handle the expected influx of visitors. They have suggested that building a new airport further from the city center could be a more sustainable long-term solution.
This upgrade is part of Thailand’s broader strategy to develop secondary tourist destinations and spread tourism more evenly across the country. By improving access to Hua Hin, the government hopes to attract more international tourists, boosting the local economy and strengthening Thailand’s reputation as a top global tourist destination.
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